Sep. 30, 2013

Each day at The Chocolate Fetish is different; you never know what you'll see being made. / Special to WNC Parent

Written by

Pam J. Hecht, WNC Parent contributor

Get tots thinking about the world around them by taking them to places where they can get a firsthand look at how things work.

While many businesses and community services provide tours for school-aged kids, here are a few ideas that may entice the littlest ones in the family: Start with one of these, or ask for an insider’s look at a place that particularly interests your child.

How mail travels

To schedule a post office tour, contact the manager at the branch you’d like to visit — not all branches provide tours, says Jim Halterman, downtown Asheville branch manager, U.S. Postal Service.

Bring a letter to mail home and if possible, “visit the branch that delivers to your ZIP code so kids can see the process of how the mail comes to their house,” he says.

“We ask them what their street address is and show them where the mail is waiting for their neighbors in the mail carrier cases — that fascinates them,” Halterman says.

Keep in mind that the larger branches providing delivery and window mailing service might be more interesting.

Fighting fires

If its doors are open and a fire truck is at rest, stop by your local fire station any time. But watch out — if there’s a fire, your tour might get cut short.

Kids may be able to sit on a truck, tour the station, and touch some of the gear, says Kelley Klope, public information officer, Asheville Fire Department. Avoid mealtimes and if you will be in a group of five or more, call ahead to schedule a tour, she adds.

“Kids are fascinated when they read about fire trucks and the gear — visiting a station makes it a reality for them,” says Klope. “They get to see what firefighters look like in their gear, so they won’t get scared if they see them again.”

• Go online to www.buncombe

county.org/living/Neighborhood/FireDepts.aspx for a listing of fire stations in Buncombe County.

Backstage peeks

Have a budding stage star? Go backstage to find out how the magic happens. Flat Rock Playhouse in Flat Rock offers periodic formal backstage tours of the theater and grounds, including the historic Lowndes House, rehearsal hall, extensive gardens and the scene shop — where sets are constructed. You can also peek into the buildings housing the renowned youth theater.

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Or, call anytime to schedule a private tour. If they’re not in the middle of rehearsals, they can likely accommodate, says Jason Ferguson, director of public relations.

“The lights come on and their eyes go wide,” Ferguson says. “And the opportunity to stand on a stage and look at the audience — even if nobody’s in the seats — gives kids a rush.”

• Backstage tours are also available, upon request, at Diana Wortham Theatre, says Rae Geoffrey, associate director. The next show for kids is “The Hungry Caterpillar” (Oct. 18), which includes a post-show question and answer session with the performers and a demonstration of how the puppets and black lights work, she adds. Or, call any time to schedule an informal small group tour, “which can be even better on a nonshow day due to availability of staff and access to backstage areas,” says Geoffrey.

Where the trash goes

The observation desk at Curbside Recycling is the place to behold a mountain of trash waiting to be recycled and watch some large machinery in action. See materials like paper and cans being sorted on conveyors and fork-lifted onto tractor trailers, ready to be shipped out.

The most interesting thing about it is the sheer size and amount of materials — a 100-yard pile about 15 feet high — and watching the sorting in action, says President Barry Lawson.

Or, visit the Buncombe County Landfill, to see where you can recycle and the large hill where waste is buried, says Jerry Mears, Buncombe County Solid Waste manager.

Visions of chocolate

While they have tours by appointment for first-graders and up, the younger set can still take a sweet peek behind the scene at The Chocolate Fetish in downtown Asheville. Its on-site factory can be viewed through the glass windows inside the Haywood Park Hotel atrium.

Ask inside the shop and if they’re not busy, one of the staff may even be able to take you on a “through-the-glass tour,” says Elizabeth Foley, general manager.

Each day is different, so what you’ll see varies, she says. The best time for viewing is from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On many Wednesdays and Thursdays, visitors will spot what looks like a chocolate waterfall as they do the hand decorating of the chocolates, she adds.

Watch as truffles are constructed from the middle out, ending up in the cooling tunnel as finished pieces. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the enrobing machine, a conveyor belt reminiscent of the “I Love Lucy” TV show episode about a chocolate factory.

Caring for furry friends

Whether or not you plan on fostering or adopting a furry friend, consider a visit to a local animal shelter, to find out what they do there.

“Kids can see how animals are fed and cleaned and find out about a day in the life of an animal here,” says Meghan Jordan, director of public relations, Asheville Humane Society. “It’s also a great way to learn what it takes to care for a pet.”

The best time to visit is in the mornings and late afternoons, when most of the activities take place, says Jordan. The Humane Society always has dogs and cats on hand and sometimes also houses rabbits, birds, rats, gerbils and hamsters, she adds.

Flying high

Little ones can soar through the sky on an imaginary flight aboard a real, old-fashioned airplane. Those with the patience to sit for a few minutes in the cockpit can even learn how the controls work. In the museum’s main hangar, kids can get up close and personal with a dozen or more airplanes, many from the ’30s and ’40s.

The museum also provides an excellent vantage point for viewing planes take off and land at the Hendersonville Airport next door — for maximum viewing, go on a good-weather weekend day.

“Kids are most amazed at the size of the planes and seeing them up close,” says Joseph Lilley, museum board member and volunteer. “Older kids enjoy finding out how they work.”